Iran has declared its readiness to respond decisively if attacked by Israel, intensifying tensions in the region. The warning came in response to Israel’s ongoing military actions in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragachi delivered this message during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday night, as reported by Daily World Press.
Aragachi emphasized that Iran is fully prepared to launch a “decisive and tragic response” to any aggressive actions by Israel, though the nation remains committed to maintaining peace and security in the region. He stressed that any bold move by Israel would be met with significant retaliation.
Israel has recently intensified its operations, particularly in Gaza, and has launched a substantial assault on Lebanon. Iran, which has long expressed support for the Palestinian cause and for Hezbollah in Lebanon, has voiced strong opposition to these actions. In a notable escalation, Iran fired approximately 200 missiles at Israel on October 1. Despite this, Israel has not yet responded militarily to the missile barrage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously warned that Iran would “pay a heavy price” for its actions, though no direct military retaliation has been observed as of now.
Tensions in the region have been escalating since October 7 of last year, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began a fierce offensive in Gaza, leading to a prolonged conflict.
Despite sporadic ceasefires, Israeli strikes on Gaza have continued. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 42,000 people have been killed so far in these attacks, with a significant portion of the victims being women and children.
Lebanon has also been drawn into the conflict, with Hezbollah launching aerial attacks on Israel just days ago. Israel retaliated by striking Hezbollah positions along the border and targeting areas in Beirut. The clashes have continued, with casualties mounting on both sides as the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation.
